Island



' (No Model.)

E. O. LEWIS. TELEPHONE HOLDER.

Patented Demfi, 1892 Will awozme 1 0 LITHO.. wuumo'rcN n c UNITED STATESPATENT Grinch.

EVERETT C. LEWIS, OF WOONSOOKET, RHODE ISLAND, ASSIGNOR OF ONE- I-IALFTO LEROY B. PEASE, OF SAME PLACE.

TELEPHONE-HOLDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 487,369, dated December6, 1892. Application filed April 29, 1892. Serial No. 431.194. (Nomodel.)

"To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EVERETT O. LEWIS, a citizen of the United States,residing at Woonsocket, Providence county, Rhode Island, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Telephone-Holders, of which thefollowing is a specification.

In the use of the ordinarytelephone, which is ordinarily hung upon aswitch-hook, it has to be removed and supported by the hand at the earof the operator while the telephones are in use, and this is not only atedious operation, causing fatigue to the arm, but also prevents thefree use of the hands while writing the message received or reading froma written order to be delivered. Various means have been suggested toovercome this difficulty and to mechanically support thetelephone-receiver while in use in proper position with relation to theear of the operator and to allow freedom of his hands.

My invention relates to such holders for such purposes; and it has forits object to provide a simple, cheap, and effective holder which shallnot be liable to get out of order and which may be adjusted to hold thereceiver in the desired position, according to the tastes and wishes ofthe operator.

To these ends it consists in a holder having the various features ofconstruction, arrangement, and mode of operation, substantially such asis hereinafter more particularly pointed out.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side view of oneembodiment of my invention. Fig. 2 is a plan view, partly in section, onthe lines 2 2,Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a side View, partly in section, of amodified arrangement. Fig. 4 is a detailed perspective view of the headof the holder.

In carrying out my invention I provide a bracket which can be attachedto the wall adjacent the telephone-transmitter and accompanying devices,or which may be mounted on the desk or in any other suitable place withrelation to the transmitting-instrument. Thus I have shown the bracketconsisting of a base A, with suitable means for securing it in position,and comprising the rods B B, which are preferably suitably braced andmay be made of cast-iron or otherwise and pro ivided with a head 0.Mounted in this head is a block D, which may be secured to the head by asuitable screw-bolt E, a springwasher 6 preferably being placed outsidethe block, and the screw being provided with a thumb-nut e, whereby thepressure between the block and head may be adjusted. This block isprovided with a rod F, shown asi bent into parallel portions, passingthrough openings f in the block, and mounted on the end of this rod is ahead-piece G, it being shown as recessed to receive the ends of the rodF, which are secured in position by screw g This head-piece is providedwith a handle H and a holder I. The holder is shown as consisting of abody portion, preferably made of cast metal and supporting a number ofadj usting spring-arms J, and these are fitted into sockets in the bodyof the holder I. There may be four of these arms, each being separate,as shown at J, or two of the arms may be made from a single piece,(shown at J where the upper ends are joined, forming the loop j andsecured by set-screw '5. These adj ustable arms are adapted to receivethe earpiece or head of the ordinary receiving-telephone and are madeadjustable, so as to accommodate themselves to the varying sizes of thetelephone, and in Fig. 3 I have indicated such a head It as beingsupported between the adjustable spring-fingers J.

Sometimes it is d esirable to make the bracket adjustable, and in Fig. 3I have shown the base A as having the arms B B pivotally'connectedtherewith at K, so that the bracket maybe adjusted to any desired anglewith relation to the base-piece.

While the rod F slides by friction in the block D, I preferably providea spring L, which is interposed between the arms of the rod F andfurnishes additional friction to the arm sliding in the block.

The head-piece, while it may be rigidly attached to the arms F, can alsobe adjustable, and in Fig. 3 I have shown the head-piece G as providedwith a shank H, fitting the recess in the head, and having the handle Hattached to the shank and the support I attached to the other end, sothat the support can be rotated on the shank and present the earpiece ofthe telephone to the ear of the operator at different angles. The rotarymotion of the shank can be limited, when desired, by forming a recess.90 in its periphery, into which one end of the rod F can project, or asuitable independent pin can be fitted, which will allow the telephoneto be rotated partially on its axis, but prevents it rotating fully. T

The operation of the device will be readily understood, and when thebracket is attached to a suitable support with relationto the telephoneapparatus the parts may be adjusted to suit the convenience of theoperator by sliding them frictionally with relation to each other, sothat the telephone-receiver when placed in the adjustable spring-armswill be supported in proper relation to the ear of the operator, when hecan conduct his conversation and have his hands free for any purposedesired and be relieved from the fatigue and annoyance of manuallysupporting the receiver.

The device can be made of metal,and is exceedingly simple inconstruction and cheap to manufacture and not liable to get out oforder, and furnishes a satisfactory telephoneholder for the purposes setforth.

WVhat I claim is 1. A telephone-holder comprising a basepiece, a bracketconnected to the base-piece, a block pivotally and adjustably connectedto the head of the bracket, a rod bent to form parallel portions,sliding in said block,a headpiece mounted on the ends of said bent rod,and a holder mounted on the head-piece and having adjustable fingersarranged for the reception of the head or ear piece of the ordinarytelephone-receiver, substantially as de scribed.

2. A telephone-holder comprising the basepiece, the bracket pivotallymounted thereon, V a block adjustably mounted on the head of thebracket, a bent rod sliding on said block and having a friction-springmounted in the block, a head-piece mounted on the rod, and a holderhaving a shank pivotally mounted in a head-piece and prorided with asupport having adjustable spring-fingers for the reception of the headof the telephone-receiver, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing Witnesses.

EVERETT C. LEWIS. WVitnesses:

JEFFERSON ALDRICH, JOHN W. BENNETT.

